For a self-determined life: Digital service to support people after cancer

Thanks to medical advances, more and more patients can be cured of cancer. However, long-term survivors who were diagnosed more than five years ago still face challenges even after they have been cured: Physical limitations due to late effects of treatment, psychological stress such as the fear of relapses and financial difficulties due to loss of income caused by long periods of illness can affect various areas of life. While the need for low-threshold support is high, such services have been rare to date. This is where the HeLiS project, launched in January 2025 under the leadership of Witten/Herdecke University (UW/H), comes in. In collaboration with the University of Siegen and the University Medical Centre Greifswald, the aim is to develop a digital and diversity-sensitive service that strengthens the health literacy and self-management of long-term survivors. German Cancer Aid is funding the project for three years with a total of around 646,000 euros as part of its funding priority "Long-term survival after cancer - innovative care models".

The researchers want to mobilise the users' own resources and provide them with the tools they need to deal with their state of health and life situation in a self-determined way. To this end, they focus on imparting knowledge and promoting skills. The aim is to enable long-term cancer survivors to understand and critically evaluate medical information about their own health.

Target group and needs-based content creates a customised offering

The digital care offering should be just as individualised as the patient's story: Based on intelligent software, content should be played out depending on individual needs and preferences. "For example, interactive formats such as quizzes and challenges on the topic of fatigue or memory training exercises are conceivable. We are dependent on the input of the target groups here," explains Kübra Annac, research assistant at the Chair of Health Care Research at the UW/H and the main person responsible for the HeLiS project. According to the researcher, the application should fulfil the requirements and expectations of future users in the best possible way. "Other possible content includes references to coaching services, yoga and breathing exercises, as well as basic information - such as a location-specific list of helpful contact persons."

Particular attention is paid to the psychological and psychosocial challenges that many long-term survivors experience after their therapy. In addition to worries about relapses, exhaustion, reduced performance and difficulties in adapting to everyday and professional life can be considerable burdens. Greifswald University Medicine is contributing its psycho-oncological expertise to integrate these aspects into the service. "A digital service can be an easily accessible way for long-term survivors to find relief, regardless of where they live, and can both support them in coping with their illness and strengthen their self-efficacy," explains Prof Dr Corinna Bergelt, Director of the Institute of Medical Psychology and head of project activities at Greifswald University Medicine.

A participatory project by long-term survivors for long-term survivors

The HeLiS project actively involves survivors from all over Germany in the various development phases in order to create a programme tailored to the target group. "Part of the co-creation process are several coordinated workshops that long-term survivors and their advocates help to shape. Together with an external software company, we then develop a prototype that takes into account the previously identified needs of future users," explains Dr Tessa Schulenkorf, research assistant at the Chair of Digital Public Health at the University of Siegen. "A low-threshold and diversity-sensitive design is important to us, in which, for example, people with limited cognitive or sensory abilities are not disadvantaged. Throughout the entire development process, we take into account the high data protection requirements of applications in the healthcare sector," emphasises Dr Schulenkorf. Following the participatory development of the prototype, it will be scientifically evaluated in practice in a randomised controlled study in order to systematically develop the service further.